Developing Digital Capabilities to Support the Aged Care Sector

McKenzie Aged Care Group is extremely pleased and excited to be collaborating with RMIT Enterprise AI and Data Analytics Hub, Victoria University, University of Newcastle, Fronditha Care, SmartHeal, Netlinkz, and with researchers at RMIT University and CSIRO’s Data61, as part of the Next Generation Graduates Program.

An initiative of the CSIRO, the Next Generation Graduates Program, ‘Developing Digital Capabilities to Support the Aged Care Sector’, will fund 13 university student scholarships over the next four years to work towards solutions for how the role of technology can improve service delivery in aged care. Students involved in the program can be undertaking their Honours, Masters and PHD studies.

“We are thrilled to be involved with this exceptional group of organisations, universities and research bodies, who together, will be applying their knowledge and skills today, to develop a future aged care landscape that uses artificial intelligence (AI) and emerging technologies that will re-imagine the role that technology plays in an aged care setting,” said Simon Keating, CEO of McKenzie Aged Care.

“With consumer directed care as the focus, there is no doubt that AI and assistive technologies can assist staff and residents in the day-to-day operations in the residential aged care environment.

“Digital innovations such as incident detection and using facial recognition to detect whether a resident is in pain or distress, along with technologies and software that improve the efficiency of administrative tasks, will allow the aged care sector to provide improved levels of care for older Australians,” Keating said.

CSIRO estimates that Australian industry will need up to 161,000 new AI specialist and AI savvy workers by 2030.

“The program provides exciting opportunities for university students seeking a career in AI and emerging technologies, while helping to improve the future delivery of quality care to older Australians,” said Mr Keating.